May ’19

I love breakfast food, and Twisted Citrus is my favorite local place for breakfast or brunch. First and most importantly: The coffee is excellent. The menu is big enough—and good enough—that I’ve never ordered the same thing twice, and everything I’ve eaten there is delicious. Plus, there’s a solid mix of savory and sweet options, so it keeps everyone happy.

West Virginia is more than a neighbor, bound by geography. West Virginians are fiercely proud of their state’s natural resources, the basis of some of the best outdoor adventures around, from rock climbing, to fishing, to whitewater rafting.

Sometimes you don’t notice a new fad until you bump into it. That’s what happened to me, literally, when my shopping cart sideswiped a display of toothbrushes with black bristles. I took a closer look at the Oral-B toothbrush and discovered it was infused with charcoal. And there was some Crest black-and white-striped charcoal toothpaste to go with it.

If you have ever walked the long toothbrush aisle in a big-box store undecided, we have good news for you: “The best toothbrush is the one you’re using in your hand, if you’re using it right,” says dentist Mark Burhenne, creator and author of Ask the Dentist. We asked five experts for their picks. No matter what brush you choose, Burhenne says, what’s most important is to aim for the gum, to not overbrush and to try to clean for two minutes, depending on what kind of diet you eat; more sugar and processed foods equals more brushing.

After a long day of work, there’s nothing better than putting on some comfy clothes, sitting down on the couch and turning on a good show. Our staff weighs in on their favorite recent streaming shows, so kick back, relax and get ready to binge watch to your heart’s content.

Brian Bailey is a man with a plan. Lots of plans, actually. “I’ve been accused of having restaurant ADD,” he said brightly. “I eat at a lot of restaurants. I love food. I love to tell stories about a region through food.” His restaurant concepts have included Old Carolina Barbecue Co., Baja West Coast Kitchen, Smoke the Burger Joint and two new ones, Biscuit Uprising and StreetCraft Modern Mexican.

Tony Ly was just 23 years old when he opened Basil Asian Bistro in downtown Canton in May 2013. “I had a lot of management experience for my age, but not enough. I was still growing up,” Ly said. With an easy chuckle, he added, “I’m still growing up.” Six years later, Basil is a popular and thriving downtown cornerstone.

Gervasi Vineyard off 55th Street NW in Canton remains an Italian village in the making. Nine years ago, Gervasi Vineyard was the last workable farm in Canton and seemed to Ted Swaldo a good place to grow grapes.

By this time of year, it can be hard to remember exactly what we were thinking when we finalized the editorial calendar for the whole year back in October. Our media kit still mentions Gourmet Legacy as the cover story for this issue. But as you can tell, this issue isn’t about that.